Hand exercises using putty Information for patients
You have been provided with exercise putty by your therapist to facilitate upper limb strength, range and/or co-ordination. This leaflet includes information for how to look after the putty and exercises for you to complete following demonstration from your therapist. The exercises that your therapist wishes you to complete will have a tick beside them. If you have any questions regarding information in this leaflet, please speak to your therapist. This leaflet is provided to:... Your therapist on the ward is:...... Contact number:... page 2 of 12
Cautions Use only as directed by your therapist. The exercises applicable will have a tick by them in this leaflet Stop using the putty if you experience any pain or swelling Wash your hands before and after use Keep putty in pot provided to contain the putty and to prevent it from drying out Avoid direct contact between putty and materials such as fabric, clothing and carpet Keep putty away from excessive heat or open flame If in a hot environment, store putty in the pot in a fridge For external use only. In case of ingestion seek professional assistance. Avoid contact with eyes, nose and ears page 3 of 12
Exercising the wrist Flexion Number of repetitions:... Place your forearm over edge of table with palm facing the ceiling, allowing hand to hang over edge. Grip the putty with one hand while holding putty in place with the other hand. Flex (bend) hand toward the ceiling. Extension Number of repetitions:... Place wrist over edge of table, allowing hand to hang over edge. Grip putty with one hand while holding putty in place with other. Extend (bend) hand toward ceiling as far as possible. page 4 of 12
Exercising the thumb Opposition Number of repetitions:... Turn your hand palm up. Place a ball of putty in your palm. Bend thumb towards little finger and push down into putty. page 5 of 12
Radial and palmer abduction Number of repetitions:... Roll putty into a sausage shape and join the ends to make a ring. Position hand palm facing you, as in picture, keeping fingers and thumb together. Place putty around the hand and thumb. For radial abduction spread thumb to the side, increasing the space between thumb and index finger. For palmer abduction spread thumb out from palm, increasing space between thumb and palm. page 6 of 12
Flexion Number of repetitions:... Position your hand as in the picture below. Place ball of putty in palm and hold with fingers. Bend thumb down into putty. Extension Number of repetitions:... Roll putty into sausage shape. Wrap around top of thumb while it is bent toward palm as in picture. Grip ends of putty with fingers and straighten thumb. page 7 of 12
Exercising the fingers Flexion/Pinch Number of repetitions:... Roll putty into sausage shape. Pinch down the length of the putty using firstly index finger and thumb then repeat with each finger and thumb in turn. Flexion/Grip strength Number of repetitions:... Place ball of putty into palm of hand. Bend fingers into putty making a fist. page 8 of 12
Extension Number of repetitions:... Place a semi-flat piece of putty on the table. Place bent fingers in putty. Straighten fingers. page 9 of 12
Abduction Number of repetitions:... Roll putty into a small ring shape. Draw your fingers and thumb tips together and place the ring of putty over them. Spread your fingers and thumb out evenly, trying to break the ring. Adduction Number of repetitions:... With your hand flat on the table, squeeze a finger-sized piece of putty between each finger in turn. page 10 of 12
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Acknowledgements Smith & Nephew Roylan Inc. Royal Adelaide Hospital (Australia) STH Hand Therapy Instruction Sheet Produced with support from Sheffield Hospitals Charity Working hard to fund improvements that make life better for patients and their families Please donate to help us do more www.sheffieldhospitalscharity.org.uk Registered Charity No 1059043 Alternative formats can be available on request. Please email: alternativeformats@sth.nhs.uk Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2017 Re-use of all or any part of this document is governed by copyright and the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 SI 2005 No.1515. Information on re-use can be obtained from the Information Governance Department, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. Email infogov@sth.nhs.uk PD8480-PIL3577 v2 Issue Date: January 2017. Review Date: January 2019